2023 Short Film Competition

Final Deadline: October 15th, 2023

Submit Below

Must submit through:

Winner Receives:
$5,000 | industry circulation | development and promotion

The 6th Annual Film Pipeline Shorts Competition seeks remarkable directors and diverse, engaging content—the type of work defined by forward-thinking perspectives and unconventional yet universally appealing stories.

Film Pipeline has created a platform significantly different from a festival: selected entrants are given one-on-one collaboration with Pipeline execs to develop or produce additional scripts, consideration for industry circulation, and extended promotion of their film to our broader audience.

With over two decades of experience discovering new screenwriters, we've cultivated a dynamic, hands-on process of development and industry introductions for filmmakers. This allows both emerging and seasoned writers and directors to receive personalized assistance in all facets. And, most importantly, Pipeline spotlights and supports selected talent with the intent of fostering their careers long-term.

Winner and finalists awarded:

  • $5,000 to winner
  • Industry circulation consideration to select partners, including agents and managers
  • Promotion of the short and the filmmakers’ future work
  • Additional long-term development of other projects
  • Financing opportunities for additional shorts

FINAL DEADLINE:
Sunday, October 15th

Must submit through:

- ABOUT FILM PIPELINE -

Launched in 2018, Film Pipeline searches for extraordinary directors, produced shorts, unproduced scripts, and other content from a growing field of talent worldwide. Filmmakers and writers discovered through Pipeline receive circulation assistance to agencies, managers, and executives on the lookout for the next wave of artists, with a sharp emphasis on diverse storytelling and stylistic originality. Unlike a traditional one-and-done festival, the company champions individual writers and directors, playing a central role in getting projects developed, produced, and promoted.

Over $8 million in screenplays and pilots have been sold by Pipeline writers as well as numerous scripts produced since 1999, a notable list that includes studio films Stuber by Tripper Clancy and Snow White and the Huntsman by Evan Daugherty. Pipeline Screenwriting finalist Bring Me Back by Crosby Selander sold to Legendary in 2020 for seven figures—one of the all-time biggest spec sales by an unproduced writer. Helen Gaughran's winning script Visitation was produced in 2023, starring Olivia Cooke (House of the Dragon) and Isla Johnston (The Queen’s Gambit). Several Pipeline writers have made The Black List recently, such as Elad Ziv's Court 17, Cauliflower by Daniel Jackson, and Pure by Catherine Schetina, the latter two securing the #1 spot. And writers have signed with multiple top managers and agents over the years, landing with reps at Bellevue, UTA, Kaplan/Perrone, Alibi Management, and more following Script Pipeline development and introductions.

View notable success stories.

In total, across Film, Book, and Script Pipeline, approximately 25,000 pieces of creative material are reviewed annually, with ~2,000 entries submitted to Film Pipeline in 2022.

Learn more about Script Pipeline and Pipeline Media Group, as well as Pipeline Artists, a platform designed to educate and uplift creatives in the arts.

Grand Prize Winner - announced December 10th, 2023

  • $5,000

Finalists (up to 5) - announced December 1st, 2023

The Grand Prize Winner, Runners-up, and Finalists all receive the following:

  • Industry circulation to select partners, including agents and managers
  • Promotion of the short and the filmmakers’ future work
  • Additional review of other shorts or scripts, with circulation consideration
  • Financing opportunities for additional shorts

GUIDELINES

- Submission must be a standalone scripted short film or proof-of-concept. No limit on runtime, but the entry should be considered a "short."

- Any genre accepted, including non-narrative or experimental shorts. But must be for a scripted film. No documentaries, reality shows, trailers, or director's reels.

- If submitting a proof-of-concept intended to be a feature, entrants may also send supplemental info, such as a pitch, series outline, or full treatment of the story. Full screenplays are not accepted but may be submitted to Script Pipeline.

RULES

  • Films co-written or co-directed are allowed. Only one person on the filmmaking team needs to register, be it the writer, director, or producer.
  • Non-exclusive: It's fine if the film has been screened or entered into festivals prior to or after entry. There are no restrictions if there was prior distribution.
  • No limit on the number of entries. Each entry is a separate fee.

View complete rules and guidelines

Pipeline Media Group has cultivated relationships with over 200 production companies, managers, agents, directors, independent producers, networks, and other executives over the past two decades, leading to multiple writers signed and specs sold.

Some of the companies in Pipeline's network include:

*Industry: request to review Film Pipeline winners and finalists here.

WHAT ARE THE DEADLINE DATES?

Final deadline is through FilmFreeway ONLY on October 15th.

DO YOU ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES?

Absolutely. Filmmakers worldwide are welcome to participate in this and any Film Pipeline, Script Pipeline, or Book Pipeline competition.

IF MY SHORT SCREENED AT A FEST, IS IT STILL ELIGIBLE?

Yes. As Film Pipeline is not a festival, we don’t have any restrictions on when and where the film was screened or if it received distribution at any point.

WHAT KINDS OF SHORT FILMS DO YOU ACCEPT?

All genres accepted, including experimental work. The film can be a standalone short or a proof-of-concept with plans to expand into a feature or series. Only thing we don't review is documentary or reality content, nor will we accept director's reels or trailers.

CAN I SUBMIT A ROUGH CUT?

Rough cuts are fine to submit. Our criteria is primarily based on the storytelling, the premise, and the directing ability. If you do send a rough cut, please let our coordinator know after submitting so we can take that into account when judging.

CAN I SUBMIT SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS?

Yes, in fact we would encourage writers to include supplemental materials (synopsis, a director’s statement, etc.) along with the film. You can email those materials direct to our coordinator. There’s no formatting requirement for supplemental materials, but we’d prefer they be sent as a PDF.

DO I RETAIN THE RIGHTS TO MY FILM?

All rights remain with the entrant, regardless of the final contest results. For circulation, material isn’t sent to anyone outside of Film Pipeline without the filmmakers’ consent.

AM I ALLOWED TO SUBMIT AN UPDATED LINK TO THE FILM AFTER REGISTERING?

Yes, we’ll accept updated materials any time, at no extra fee. We would need to receive the film and all supplemental info by the contest’s final deadline.

Contact our contest coordinator with any other questions.

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